TALBOT420

D^r Birch.
B. Mus^m

Lacock Abbey

Friday 20 October

Dear Sir

The claim of M^r Smith’s ¹ family for a pension appears to me the clearest case that has ever yet occurred, and if M^r Gladstone ² were now Prime Minister it would be certainly granted.

But L^d Beaconsfield ³ is very probably unacquainted with M^r Smith’s writings and discoveries, for although a literary man himself his genius lies in quite a different direction.

If the Trustees would take the unusual step of memorializing the Minister on the subject I should think the pension would readily be granted, and why should they not do so?

If it be said that it would be a thing unprecedented, I can only reply, “make a precedent”! for everything must have a beginning at some time or other. Until this question of the pension is decided one way or other I think it better to withhold my subscription to the fund raised for the benefit of the family.

The Museum has now lost ⁴ its right hand man in Assyrian Philology. Will it be obliged to suspend its cuneiform publications? If I can be of any assistance to the Museum I shall be very happy to be so Especially if I can work while remaining at home, copies of lithographs being furnished to me – Work in the Museum would be less easy to me –

Pray inform me if there is any truth in the newspaper statement that the trustees have appointed M^r Rassam ⁵ to continue the excavations at Niniveh, <sic> and that he has got a firman for two years? – I have seen nothing as yet of Records volume seventh, ⁶ will it be out soon?

Yours Truly

H. F. Talbot